Planning & Length

Most surgeons consider 5 to 8 cm per segment (femur or tibia) to be within a manageable range, though individual anatomy, bone quality, and soft tissue tolerance all affect the safe limit. Attempting to exceed these thresholds significantly increases the risk of complications such as nerve damage and joint contracture.

Costs vary widely by country, surgeon, device, and whether one or two segments are lengthened. Factors include the device itself (internal nails are generally more expensive), hospital fees, anesthesia, physical therapy, imaging, and travel or accommodation if going abroad. Detailed cost categories and typical ranges are outlined in our cost overview.

The decision depends on several factors including your proportional goals, risk tolerance, and surgeon recommendation. Femur lengthening changes the thigh-to-lower-leg ratio and generally has lower nerve complication rates. Tibia lengthening adds more visible standing height but carries higher peroneal nerve risk.

Key planning variables include choosing your surgeon and method, understanding the full timeline (distraction + consolidation + rehab), arranging physical therapy access, budgeting for all costs, planning time off work, and organizing post-operative support at home. Our planning variable map covers these categories in detail.